Well Data Acquisition Tool Probe Guard

ABSTRACT

A probe assembly for use with a well data acquisition tool includes a probe and a probe guard. The probe includes a body and a tip extending from the body along a longitudinal axis of the tip to a terminal end. The tip defines a length and a surface area along the length and is configured for sensing one or more well characteristics. The probe guard extends about the tip of the probe and leaves a majority of the surface area of the tip exposed to a flow that is angularly offset from the longitudinal axis of the tip of the probe.

BACKGROUND

Oil and gas explorations and/or productions rely on well logging, aprocess of taking well measurements in order to evaluate a wellthroughout its various life-cycle phases, including drilling (e.g.,logging-while-drilling or measurement-while-drilling), wireline logging,testing, completion, production, and abandonment phases. Over the years,increasingly sophisticated tools and testing strategies have beendeveloped to characterize well properties and performance. Measurementsare often made of the fluid moving in the well, where the fluid mayinclude mixtures of oil, water, gas, and particulate in variousproportions. Measurements of local fluid properties in oil wells ofteninclude electrical resistivity and optical reflectivity, among others.Often times, the probes utilized for these measurements includerelatively delicate tips with diameters tapering from about 1 millimeterto about 50 micrometers, for example. Due to the sensitivity of thetips, there is often an increased risk of tip damage, during conveyancewithin the well or from debris in the fluid flowing across the tip, forexample.

SUMMARY

Some embodiments relate to a probe guard to help decrease risk of probedamage during conveyance and data logging while promoting proberesponsiveness. In some implementations, the probe guard is utilized inassociation with well data acquisition tools, such as well reservoirevaluation tools, or well drilling tools, such as logging- ormeasuring-while-drilling tools.

Some embodiments relate to a probe assembly for use with a well dataacquisition tool, the probe assembly including a probe and a probeguard. The probe includes a body and a tip extending from the body alonga longitudinal axis of the tip to a terminal end. The tip defines alength and a surface area along the length and is configured for sensingone or more well characteristics. The probe guard extends about the tipof the probe and leaves a majority of the surface area of the tipexposed to a flow that is angularly offset from the longitudinal axis ofthe tip of the probe.

Some embodiments relate to securing a probe guard about a tip of aprobe. The probe extends from a probe body, along a longitudinal axis,and to a terminal end. The probe tip defines a length and a surface areaalong the length and is configured for sensing one or more wellcharacteristics. The probe guard is extended about the tip of the probesuch that a majority of the surface area of the tip is left exposed to aflow that is angularly offset from the longitudinal axis of the probetip.

While multiple embodiments with multiple elements are disclosed, stillother embodiments and elements will become apparent to those skilled inthe art from the following detailed description, which shows anddescribes illustrative embodiments. Accordingly, the drawings anddetailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature andnot restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a well data acquisition tool, accordingto some embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a probe assembly that can be used with the welldata acquisition tool of FIG. 1, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the probe assembly of FIG. 2, according to someembodiments.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the probe assembly of FIG. 2, accordingto some embodiments.

FIG. 5 is an end view of a probe guard that can be used with the probeassembly of FIG. 2, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 6 is an end view of another probe guard that can be used with theprobe assembly of FIG. 2, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a side view of another probe assembly that can be used withthe well data acquisition tool of FIG. 1, according to some embodiments.

Some embodiments are shown in the figures by way of example. Additionalor alternate features are contemplated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are described belowincluding method, apparatus and system embodiments. These describedembodiments and their various elements are examples of the presentlydisclosed techniques. It should be appreciated that in the developmentof any actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project,numerous implementation-specific decisions can be made to achieve thedevelopers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related andbusiness-related constraints, which can vary from one implementation toanother. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a developmenteffort might be time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routineundertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those ofordinary skill having the benefit(s) of this disclosure.

When introducing elements of various embodiments of the presentdisclosure, the articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to mean thatthere are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,”“including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean thatthere can be additional elements other than the listed elements.Additionally, it should be understood that references to “oneembodiment” or “an embodiment” of the present disclosure are notintended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additionalembodiments that also incorporate the listed elements.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a well data acquisition tool 10 that can bedeployed into a well 12 as part of a well production logging operation.In some embodiments, the well 12 can be inclined or horizontal with thetool 10 being lowered into the well 12 in a compact state and thenexpanded to engage the walls of the well 12. The tool 10 may beoptionally connected to the surface (or other desired location) by arod, a cable, or other coupling means (not shown). While the couplingmeans are optionally utilized for conveying data from the tool 10 to thedesired location, in addition or as an alternative the tool 10 canoptionally include telemetry means for conveying data to the desiredlocation.

As shown, the tool 10 includes a body 20 and an expansion assembly 22connected to the body 20. The expansion assembly 22 includes a first arm24 and a second arm 26, the first and second arms 24, 26 beingconfigured to articulate with each other and with the body 20. As shown,the body 20 is supported on the lower wall of the well 12. Duringdeployment, the arms 24, 26 are in shape of a “V” located in a verticalplane passing through a longitudinal axis of the well 12. A plurality ofprobe assemblies 28, such as electrical resistivity probes/sensors oroptical reflectivity probes/sensors, are located on the tool 10, such ason the first arm 24 and the body 20. In some embodiments, the tool 10can be same as or similar to those made by Schlumberger Ltd. under thetrade name “Flow Scanner”. In other embodiments, the tool 10 can be sameas or similar to those made by Schlumberger Ltd. under the trade name“FloView Holdup Measurement Tool”.

In some embodiments, the probe assemblies 28 can be configured forsensing one or more well characteristics. For example, the probeassemblies 28 can optionally include one or more probes that are same asor similar to those made by Schlumberger Ltd. under the trade name“FloView,” “GHOST,” or others. In some embodiments, the plurality ofprobe assemblies 28 may include a probe assembly 28A, such as that shownschematically in FIG. 2.

Although the probe assemblies 28, 28A are described in association withwell production logging tools, any of a variety of well data acquisitiontools may employ the probe assemblies 28, 28A, such as any toolsassociated with one or more of drilling (e.g., logging-while-drilling ormeasurement-while-drilling), wireline logging, testing, completion,production, and abandonment phases.

FIG. 2 is a top view, FIG. 3 is a side view, and FIG. 4 is an isometricview of the probe assembly 28A, according to some embodiments. As shown,the probe assembly 28A includes a probe 50, a probe guard 52, and asupport 54. In some embodiments, the probe 50 includes a body 60 and atip 62. As previously described, the probe 50 can optionally be anelectrical, resistivity probe or sensor, where the tip 62 senseselectrical impedance of fluid touching the tip 62 in order to, forexample, distinguish water, which is low-impedance, from high-impedanceoil and gas. In other embodiments, the probe 50 can be an optical,reflectivity probe or sensor that is sensitive to a fluid's index ofrefraction.

The body 60 can optionally be elongate (e.g., about 2 to about 6 cm longoverall, although other dimensions are contemplated) and cylindrical,defining one or more outer diameters (e.g., about 5 mm to about 20 mm indiameter, although other dimensions are contemplated). The body 60 mayoptionally house electrical, optical, or other components 66.

In some embodiments, the tip 62 can be relatively small and configuredfor measuring tiny droplets of fluid as the fluid flows past the tip 62.As indicated by FIG. 2, the tip 62 is elongate (e.g., about 1 cm toabout 3 cm long overall, although other dimensions are contemplated) andis relatively thin. For example, the tip 62 is cylindrical, having acontinuous diameter or tapering from a first diameter (e.g., about 0.1mm to about 1 mm) to a second diameter (e.g., about 0.050 mm to about0.005 mm), although other dimensions are contemplated). The tip 62extends from the body 60 and defines a terminal end 68.

In some embodiments, the probe guard 52 can be secured about at least aportion of the probe 50. As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the probe guard 52defines a first end 70, a second end 72, and an intermediate portion 74and extends over the body 60 and the tip 62 of the probe 50 and thenbeyond the tip 62. The probe guard 52 can be formed by an elongatemember that is helically-shaped, such as a piece of wire stock that hasbeen suitably formed. The elongate member of the probe guard 52 mayoptionally have a substantially circular cross-section, although avariety of cross-sections (e.g., square, triangular, octagonal, diamond,or others) are contemplated. As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the probe guard 52has a helical shape with a variable pitch—the angle at which the helixprogresses longitudinally changes along a longitudinal axis Y of thehelix, or in different terms, tangent lines at different points alongthe helix are at a variable angle to the longitudinal axis Y of thehelix.

In some embodiments, the probe guard 52 can have a helical shape that ischaracterized by a minimum pitch (i.e., the tangent line thatcorresponds to an axial location corresponding to the terminal end 68 ofthe tip 62). In some embodiments, the probe guard 52 may have a helicalshape with a constant radius (r), such that when viewed from the end,the probe guard 52 has a circular profile (FIG. 5). In otherembodiments, the helical shape of the probe guard 52 may have a variableradius (r), such that when viewed from the end, the probe guard 52 has anon-circular profile, such as an elliptical (FIG. 6) or other profile.In still other embodiments, the probe guard 52 may have adiscontinuously varying radius (r) such that when viewed from the end,the probe guard 52 has a rectangular, diamond, or other end profile (notshown).

In some embodiments, the support 54 can be formed as part of the tool10, such as part of the first arm 24 as shown in FIG. 1. The support 54can define an inner face 78 and include one or more mounting features 80for maintaining the probe 50 and the probe guard 52 as desired. Themounting features 80 may optionally include hooks, clamps, welds,fasteners, or other means for securing the probe 50 and the probe guard52 to the inner face 78 of the support 54.

In some embodiments, assembly of the probe 50, the probe guard 52, andthe support 54 can include securing the probe 50 to the support 54 at adesired orientation with respect to flow F (illustrated, by way ofexample, as an arrow in FIG. 1 and as two arrows in FIG. 2 with one at afirst, slanted angle and the other at a second, perpendicular angle).The probe guard 52 can be secured about the probe 50, including theprobe tip 62. In some embodiments, the first end 70 of the probe guard52 can be secured to the probe 50 (e.g., the body 60) using one or moremounting features 80 (e.g., a spot weld), the intermediate portion 74 ofthe probe guard 52 can be secured to the support 54 using one or more ofthe mounting features 80 (e.g., a spot weld), and the second end 72 ofthe probe guard 52 can be secured to the support 54 using one or more ofthe mounting features 80 (e.g., a spot weld). As shown in FIGS. 2-4, insome embodiments, the second end 72 of the probe guard 52 can be securedat a location on the support 54 that is located beyond the terminal end68 of the tip 62. Greater or fewer locations for fixing the probe guard52 are contemplated.

In some embodiments, the probe guard 52 may be mounted such that the tip62 of the probe 50 is spaced from the support 54 by a desireddistance—e.g., to help allow flow to pass between the tip 62 and thesupport 54. In some embodiments, the probe guard 52 may define alongitudinal axis Y that is coaxial with the longitudinal axis X of thetip 62 such that the terminal end 68 of the tip 62 is located centrallywithin the probe guard 52. As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the probe guard 52 mayextend about the probe 50 at a varying distance from the inner face 78of the support 54. In some embodiments, the terminal end 68 of the tip62 may be located adjacent a portion of the probe guard 52 that is at amaximum distance Dmax from the inner face 78 of the support 54 (FIG. 3).

In some embodiments, during use liquid flow F passes the probe 50 andmeasurements or other information regarding the flow F of liquid can begathered using the probe tip 62. As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the probe guard52 can leave a majority of the surface area of the tip 62 exposed to theflow F that is offset from the longitudinal axis X of the tip 62. Forexample, the probe guard 52 can be configured to leave over 50%, over60%, over 70%, over 80%, over 90%, over 95%, over 98%, or over 99% ofthe surface area of the tip 62 exposed to the flow F that is offset fromthe longitudinal axis X of the tip 62. As another example, the probeguard 52 can be configured to leave from 50% to 99%, from 80% to 90%,almost 100%, or some other percentage of the surface area of the tip 62exposed to the flow F that is offset from the longitudinal axis X of thetip 62.

Restriction of the flow F to the tip 62 can result in decreasedresponsiveness and measurement error. The probe guard 52 helps provideresponsiveness while protecting the tip 62 by configuring the probeguard 52 with a minimum pitch and radius that promotes the flow F to thetip 62 while providing sufficient structure to help deflect debris, tohelp prevent the probe tip 62 from striking the well wall duringconveyance or other positioning, or otherwise protect the tip 62 fromphysical contact with unwanted objects.

As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the helical shape can have a relatively largerpitch distal of the tip 62 (toward the second end 72) and a relativelylarger pitch proximal of the tip 62 (toward the first end 70). Indifferent terms, the probe guard 52 can include a plurality ofinterconnected turns with adjacent turns defining a pitch of the probeguard 52 where the pitch decreases around the probe tip 62 and increasesproximally and distally of the probe tip 62. In some embodiments, theprobe guard 52 may be configured such that the helical shape of theprobe guard 52 distal to the terminal end 68 of the probe tip 62 extendsthrough one half of a turn and in a coiling direction (e.g., righthanded) which is selected to help avoid masking the probe tip 62 and isconfigured proximally to the probe tip 62 to help limit downstream flowrestriction and facilitate flow evacuation, although a variety of otherconfigurations and features are contemplated.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic, side view of another probe assembly 128Aincluding a guard 152 extending about a probe tip 162 of a probe 150,according to some embodiments. As shown, the probe guard 152 can leave amajority of the surface area of the tip 162 exposed to flow F1 that isoffset from the longitudinal axis X1 of the probe tip 162. The probeguard 152 can include a plurality of interconnected turns 200 withadjacent turns defining a pitch of the probe guard 152. As shown, thepitch decreases around a terminal end 168 of the probe tip 162 andincreases proximally and distally of the probe tip 162. The probe guard152 can optionally be secured to the probe 150 and a support 154 bymounting features (not shown) in a similar manner to that described inassociation with the probe assemblies 28, 28A. The probe guard 152 canoptionally be formed of one or more elongate members (e.g., wire stockmaterial). As shown, the probe guard 152 defines a maximum distance froman inner face 178 of the support 154 adjacent to the probe tip 162, andin particular the terminal end 168.

Various modifications, additions and combinations can be made to thedescribed embodiments and their various features. For example, while theembodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope ofdisclosure also includes embodiments having different combinations offeatures and embodiments that do not include all of the above describedfeatures.

1. A probe assembly for use with a well data acquisition toolcomprising: a probe including a body and a tip extending from the bodyalong a longitudinal axis of the tip to a terminal end, the tip defininga length and a surface area along the length and being configured forsensing one or more well characteristics; and a probe guard extendingabout the tip of the probe, the probe guard leaving a majority of thesurface area of the tip exposed to a flow that is angularly offset fromthe longitudinal axis of the tip of the probe.
 2. The probe assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the probe guard includes a helically-shaped member. 3.The probe assembly of claim 1, wherein the probe guard is formed by ahelically-shaped wire.
 4. The probe assembly of claim 1, wherein theprobe guard is formed by an elongate member having a substantiallycircular cross-section.
 5. The probe assembly of claim 1, wherein theprobe guard has a helical shape with a variable pitch.
 6. The probeassembly of claim 1, wherein the probe guard has a helical shape with aconstant radius.
 7. The probe assembly of claim 1, wherein the probeguard has a helical shape with a variable radius.
 8. The probe assemblyof claim 1, wherein the probe guard has a helical shape defining alongitudinal axis that is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the tipof the probe.
 9. The probe assembly of claim 1, further comprising asupport maintaining the probe and the probe guard such that the tip ofthe probe is spaced from the support.
 10. The probe assembly of claim 1,further comprising a support maintaining the probe, the support defininga face that is positioned toward the probe, and the probe guardextending along the probe at a varying distance from the face of thesupport.
 11. The probe assembly of claim 10, wherein the terminal end ofthe tip is located adjacent a portion of the probe guard that is at amaximum distance from the face of the support.
 12. A method comprisingsecuring a probe guard about a tip of a probe extending from a probebody, along a longitudinal axis, and to a terminal end, the probe tipdefining a length and a surface area along the length and beingconfigured for sensing one or more well characteristics, wherein theprobe guard is extended about the tip of the probe such that a majorityof the surface area of the tip is left exposed to a flow that isangularly offset from the longitudinal axis of the probe tip.
 13. Themethod of claim 12, wherein the probe guard has a helical shape and theprobe guard is secured about the tip of the probe such that alongitudinal axis of the helical shape is coaxial with the longitudinalaxis of the probe tip.
 14. The method of claim 12, further comprisingsecuring the probe to a support defining a face that is positionedtoward the probe such that the probe guard extends along the probe tipto define a varying distance from the face of the support.
 15. Themethod of claim 14, further comprising securing a portion of the probeguard that is at a maximum distance from the face of the supportadjacent to the terminal end of the tip.